Impact of a comprehensive population health management program on health care costs.

Objective: Assess the influence of participation in a population health management (PHM) program on health care costs.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study relied on logistic and ordinary least squares regression models to compare the costs of program participants with those of nonparticipants, while controlling for differences in health care costs and utilization, demographics, and health status. Propensity score models were developed and analyses were weighted by inverse propensity scores to control for selection bias.

The effectiveness of a telephone-based tobacco cessation program offered as part of a worksite health promotion program.

Extensive research on tobacco cessation affirms the effectiveness of interventions, although the literature is more limited concerning the impact of programs designed specifically for the workplace. The present study examines the effectiveness of a telephone-based health coaching tobacco cessation program that was provided as part of worksite health promotion programs by 10 large employers. The participants were recruited based on their health risks as identified by health assessments, and the program was personalized to meet their individual needs and stages of change.

Effectiveness of a worksite telephone-based weight management program.

Purpose: Examine the long-term impact of a telephone-based weight management program among participants recruited from worksite settings.

Design: Pre/post quasi-experimental design comparing weight loss and related behaviors between program completers and noncompleters.

Setting: Ten large private-sector and public-sector employers.

A comparison of the effectiveness of a telephone coaching program and a mail-based program.

Many health promotion interventions have been developed and tested in recent years. Practitioners and researchers must continue to explore how various program delivery modalities can be used effectively and efficiently to optimize program outcomes. A sample of 6,055 participants was drawn from 10 large employers.

The role of incentive design, incentive value, communications strategy, and worksite culture on health risk assessment participation.

Purpose: To examine the impact of financial incentives, communications strategy, and worksite culture on health risk assessment (HRA) participation rates.

Design: A cross-sectional study design was used to examine factors that influence employee participation, including incentive value, incentive design, communications strategy, and worksite culture.

Setting: Large private-sector and public-sector employers.

Association between nine quality components and superior worksite health management program results.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of "best practice" program components across a select sample of organizations, and to explore differences in engagement rates and health risk reduction between organizations using "best-practice" and "common-practice" health management approaches.

Methods: Using a retrospective approach, researchers assigned organizations to a "best practice" or "common-practice" group based on well-defined criteria. The study examined group differences in employee health assessment participation rates, health coaching program participation and completion rates, and organizational-level health risk reduction.

Poor iron status is more prevalent in Hispanic than in non-Hispanic white older adults in Massachusetts.

Iron status and dietary correlates of iron status have not been well described in Hispanic older adults of Caribbean origin. The aim of this study was to evaluate iron status and describe dietary components and correlates of iron status in Hispanic older adults and in a neighborhood-based comparison group of non-Hispanic white older adults. Six hundred four Hispanic and non-Hispanic white adults (59-91 y of age) from the Massachusetts Hispanic Elders Study were included in the analysis.